The U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on November 14 on H.R. 5770 the Water Data Improvement Act, which would reauthorize Section 9507 of the SECURE Water Act for another five years.
The SECURE Water Act authorizes the Federal Priority Streamgages, the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN), and water monitoring technology development activities across the U.S. Geological Survey.
NGWMN, which was authorized in the 2009 SECURE Water Act, is one of four priority issues for NGWA.
The importance of this work was highlighted by several speakers during the hearing, including Representative Joe Neguse (D-Colorado), noting the ongoing negotiations over the Colorado River.
“As we continue to look for ways to support our communities and to address the drought crisis both in the West and across the nation, it’s critical that we provide agencies with the resources they need, and that is what the Water Data Improvement Act is all about,” Neguse said.
Click here to read the USGS statement made during the hearing.
It is worth noting that the Congressional Research Service published its own overview of USGS water monitoring activities in 2021.
If the House Committee on Natural Resources advances H.R. 5770, it would be considered on the floor of the House before being sent to the Senate. Click here to watch the full hearing.